The new Glenfiddich 31 Y.O. Grand Château whisky celebrates an unexpected union between Speyside and Bordeaux

The latest release from the award-winning Glenfiddich distillery continues the mission of the Grand Series collection - celebrating the union between two tradition-centered worlds which, at least on paper, don't have much in common. The very idea of an unexpected combination is one that allows for top-level experiments, with fine whiskies aged in barrels that have previously contained high-quality cognac, sherry, rum and awamori.

After aging for 31 years in traditional American oak barrels, the new Glenfiddich Grand Château was left for 9 more years in barrels that used to contain Bordeaux red wine. This is the distillery's first whisky aged in this kind of barrels.

The creator of this innovative process is Malt Master Brain Kinsman, who tells us how he enthusiastically seized the opportunity: 

"Bordeaux red wine barrels can give whisky unexpected organoleptic notes and helped us create a whisky that really brings out Glenfiddich's distinctive fruity character, balancing it with deep, unusual oak and vanilla notes. It's true that wine is becoming an increasingly popular choice for aging Single Malts, but it's still relatively rare to see whiskies aged in Bordeaux red wine barrels. That's what makes this bottling particularly intriguing.”

As with all his creations, the Malt Master closely monitored each barrel, checking the spirit every six months until he determined it had reached its peak quality and was therefore ready to be bottled.

The Glenfiddich distillery has long been cultivating a passionate relationship with the art world, which over the years has materialized in the form of collaborations with well-established as well as emerging designers, photographers and painters. They have frequently been asked to create works of art inspired from the distillery and its products.

For Grand Château 31 Y.O., another great artist has been invited to collaborate - André Saraiva, who designed the bold watercolor decoration of the package interior. Born in Uppsala and raised in Paris, André made the history of street art and was the first to use a character instead of the traditional tag name. His Mr. A, a cheerful stick figure wearing a top hat, is widely known and appears on the box of the very limited "Artist's Edition" as he playfully selects the premium whisky while disrupting the traditional Toile de Jouy background print, used as a canvas. This version is only available in 250 bottles.

André commented on the collaboration with the distillery,

"When Glenfiddich asked me (and Mr. A) to collaborate with them, it seemed like a perfect match. I'm a whisky lover, and the connection between this particular release and my beloved France has really sparked my creativity. I had the pleasure of visiting beautiful Scotland, learn about its history and heritage, its people and inspiring atmosphere. It was a unique adventure that's now reflected in my designs and in the collaboration with Glenfiddich."

Glenfiddich 31-year-old Single Malt Grand Château is bottled at 47.6% ABV. The nose has rich, warm notes of vanilla evolving into fruity and floral nuances of blackcurrant and hazelnut.

The mouth is rich, with notes of cherries and caramelized apples intertwined with warm spices and toasted oak. The finish is deep and persistent.